Olympic Snowboarder Sophie Hediger, 26, Dies in Avalanche

Sophie Hediger, an Olympic snowboarder who competed for Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has died in an avalanche. She was 26 years old. 

Hediger’s death was confirmed by the Swiss-Ski Federation on Tuesday, December 24. 

“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” Swiss-Ski Federation CEO Walter Reusser said in a statement. “For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie.”

According to the Federation, Hediger was swept up in an avalanche on Monday, December 23 in the Swiss mountain resort town of Arosa. 

Hediger grew up in Horgen, Switzerland, said the Federation, roughly 80 miles northwest of Arosa. 

“A beloved hobby, came to a tragic, sudden, far too early end,” the Federation eulogized.

In accordance with Hediger’s family and “life partner,” Swiss-Ski will not be providing any additional information about her death. 

According to French news outlet Le Parisien, Hediger was skiing with another person at the time of the avalanche. Hediger and her skiing partner — who was not named and whose status was not reported — were on a closed slope and leaving the mountain when the avalanche hit. 

Emergency services were notified, but Hediger was not located for two hours. Attempts to resuscitate Hediger on the scene were unsuccessful. 

An investigation into Hediger’s death has been launched, per the outlet.

According to Le Parisien, the risk of avalanches is currently very high in Switzerland, with heavy snowfall hitting the region over the past few days. 

Hediger competed in women’s snowboard cross and mixed team snowboard cross at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. 

During the 2023-’24 season, Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podiums. 

At the FIS Snowboard World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland in January 2024, Hediger made it to the podium for the first time. 

“Wow! what just happened yesterday!🤩,” she posted via Instagram. “got my first worldcup podium at home! 🥈🇨🇭 couldn’t be happier ❤️‍🔥”

In February, she hit the podium again in Guadari, Georgia. 

“Don’t know what to say 🤩” Hediger posted via Instagram. “third place at todays worldcup here in Gudauri 🇬🇪.”

Hediger last posted on Instagram on December 15, when she said she was “happy about my riding and my best qualification I’ve ever had.”